NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48
“Haa… Anyway, let’s get back to the topic.”
“Aw, you’re being cold, Mizuki-san. Even though a high school girl mustered the courage to confess to you.”
“I’m not a fan of confessions that completely lack any mood or sincerity.”
Kondo-san pouted, but I let out a sigh. How could she call that calculated appeal an “act of courage”?
While her audacity did have a certain charm that came full circle, unfortunately, I didn’t feel like taking it seriously.
If I continue this conversation, all that remains is the objective fact that it’s an adult male engaging in a conversation about dating with a high school girl. There’s only risk in keeping this topic going, so it’s best to get back to the main issue. Then again, I only steered us into small talk to avoid the risks in the first place. Even if I change the subject, it feels like it’s bound to circle back to this.
“Well, anyway, let’s talk about the serious stuff now. Given the nature of the situation and my own thoughts, I might say some harsh things, but I’d appreciate it if you could bear with me.”
“Wait, are you… could it be you’re mad at me for dragging you into this mess?”
“I’m not mad, but…”
If anything, I’m more exasperated. It’s not like I don’t have some feelings about the trouble caused, but that’s more on the manager and the part-timers, not Kondo-san.
After all, even if we’re just coworkers, when a girl I know — a minor, no less — is in danger, I’m more concerned than angry.
Though I’m fully aware of my own shortcomings in communication, I still consider myself to have some basic common sense. So, taking on this responsibility isn’t something I’m unwilling to do.
“Well… how should I put this… With situations like this, the worst-case scenario could be life-threatening, right? So, personally, I can’t just brush it off with ‘It’s not your fault’ and leave it at that. There’s no way I can casually throw around comforting words. That’s why I’m giving you a heads-up that I might come off as harsh.”
“A heads-up? Doesn’t that just mean you are mad!?”
“Ah, sorry, I misspoke. I meant a precaution. Yeah, a precaution.”
“A precaution…”
Oh boy, this isn’t looking good. I might be putting up a calm front, but I’m definitely not as composed as I thought.
That confession earlier wasn’t that shocking… no, it wasn’t. I was surprised, sure, but now’s not the time to dwell on trivialities.
The reason is simple: because of what we’re about to talk about. Even if I’m not angry, I’m about to hit her with some blunt truths, and I’m worried she might start crying or get upset.
As evidenced by my tendency to ignore things like I did with Chiaki at first, I’m naturally lazy and conflict-averse. I’m not a fan of having serious, tension-filled conversations.
“So, anyway. First, the big question: how do you feel about this stalker situation? Is there any part of you that doesn’t completely hate it? Or maybe you’re kind of flattered?”
“No way! There’s no way I’d feel that way!”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m just asking to be thorough. If you felt even a bit that way, the way we’d handle things would change.”
“No, no, no. Obviously, no one wants anything to do with a stalker.”
“Right? I thought so, too…”
Right? That’s how it should be…
“Like I said, aligning our understanding is important to avoid any issues. So, while we’re at it, let me ask another uncomfortable question: Is there any chance you did something that gave him the wrong idea? Like, acting flirty during customer service?”
“No way! Why would I ever flirt with a creepy old guy like that?! At least if it was a dashing older gentleman, maybe…”
“Well, now I know you’re into older men. But to stay on topic: be careful with older guys. Any grown man who responds to advances from a minor is bad news. So, no matter what happens, don’t go along with it.”
“Mizuki-san, what do you think I am? Do you really think I can’t tell the difference between a decent guy and a bad one?”
“Well, considering you’re hitting on me, I’d say your judgment might be off.”
“Aren’t you being a little too hard on yourself…?”
It’s not just self-deprecation, though. Given we only know each other through work, it’s understandable, but I’m honestly not the greatest person.
“Anyway, if we’re talking about older guys, a real adult would definitely reject you if you tried anything. If they don’t, they’re already out of the running as a decent person. So, don’t waste your time.”
“But what about age-gap couples? Those exist in real life!”
“Sure, I won’t deny that. But in those cases, there’s a lot of maturity and commitment involved on the guy’s side… No, wait, that’s off-topic.”
Her words were making me digress into a lecture, but that’s not the conversation I wanted to have here.
So, let’s get back to aligning our understanding of this stalker situation.
“So, basically, there’s no reason why someone would get the wrong idea from you?”
“Yeah, I just did my job. Normal customer service.”
“I see… well, sometimes it’s more about how the other person interprets things, so this might just be a case of bad luck.”
People have their own reasons for becoming obsessed. If there’s nothing on her side to cause it, then it’s just one of those unfortunate situations.
Personally, I can understand why the stalker might have gotten fixated on her. Kondo-san is the kind of girl who gets doted on by the other part-timers, and she’s got good looks to boot. From an outsider’s perspective, she’s the type that would naturally attract attention.
So, I guess it’s not surprising that someone would fall for her. It just so happens that this time, it’s someone obsessive and with questionable social skills.
“Alright, next question. Have you gone to the police about this?”
“I have, but their response wasn’t great…”
“Yeah, that’s what the manager said.”
It’s not uncommon to hear that the police are slow to react in stalking cases. So, I guess it’s another thing to chalk up to bad luck.
Though, depending on how you approach it, their response might change. But that’s something for a lawyer or expert to handle. It’s best for amateurs to stay out of it.
“What about your parents?”
“I-I talked to them.”
“There was a slight pause there, wasn’t there?”
“I-I’m just imagining things.”
“You’re being really obvious, though.”
She had been speaking confidently up until now, but suddenly she’s stammering… really easy to read.
“Yup, communication really is key. So, Kondo-san, care to explain in more detail?”
“You’re not… gonna get mad, right?”
“I’ll decide after hearing your excuse.”
“Eep…”
Like I’ve said before, stalking is a serious issue with real-life dangers. Depending on her reasons, it might be necessary for me, as the older person here, to scold her properly.
“Well, spill it.”
“…Yessir.”